While students were enjoying a well-deserved summer break, learning continued in the West Catholic community.

This summer, members of the West Catholic faculty and staff traveled to conferences across the country, bringing back new ideas, strategies and inspiration to prepare for the 2026–2027 school year. From school counseling and Advanced Placement instruction to technology, mathematics, classroom management and student well-being, WC teachers spent their summer growing so they could continue to help their students grow.

For school counselor Diane Ysasi, that meant attending the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Conference. The conference covered a wide range of topics that directly impacted high school students, including college trends, anxiety, NCAA eligibility and the ASCA National Standards.

Opportunities like these help ensure she is ready to meet the ever-changing needs of West Catholic students—not just academically, but as they navigate the decisions, challenges and opportunities that come with high school and life after graduation.

That same dedication to preparing students for what comes next was a major theme for English teacher Gillian Palmer, who attended the National AP Conference in Las Vegas. One of her favorite experiences was a roundtable with AP essay readers, where she gained firsthand insight into what separates high-scoring student responses from the rest.

That knowledge will be especially valuable this year as Palmer introduces a new version of West Catholic’s Oral Communications course. While she has taught the course in the past, she is approaching it with a completely refreshed curriculum and updated strategies. Her summer learning gave her new ideas for creating rigorous, purposeful instruction while helping students become stronger communicators and critical thinkers. She also valued the opportunity to meet English teachers from across the country and connect—sharing ideas, challenges and successes.

Meanwhile, art teacher Lisa Nawrocki and math teacher Kelli Pelak both attended the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Conference, where their learning took them in different directions but ultimately toward the same goal: creating classrooms where students can thrive.

Pelak’s experience at ISTE focused heavily on an important part of student success: belonging. In a session titled “Building Bridges: Cultivating a Thriving Mathematics Education Community,” Kelli was reminded of the important role teachers play in shaping how students see themselves as learners. The session emphasized the responsibility educators have to intentionally create classrooms where students experience community, confidence and joy in learning.

That idea carried into another session Pelak attended, “Joyful Leadership: Using Positive Psychology, Emotional Intelligence, and Mindfulness at Work.” The session explored not only how teachers can better support their students, but also why educators need to care for themselves and build strong communities among their colleagues. 

That balance matters because students bring much more into the classroom than what a teacher sees on the surface. A student may be carrying stress from societal pressure, family circumstances or simply having a difficult day. Pelak’s experience reinforced the importance of intentionally reaching out, building relationships and creating a classroom environment where students know they belong. Pelak shared that when teachers do so, students will thrive—not just in math, but throughout their experience at West Catholic.

That philosophy ties each of these professional development experiences together. While the conferences covered very different subjects, they all centered on one common purpose: knowing students better and giving them the tools they need to succeed.

West Catholic’s mission is to form disciples of Christ and prepare students for the world. That mission calls educators to pursue excellence not only for themselves, but for the students they serve.

For Palmer, that means helping students develop the critical thinking, communication and intellectual discipline they need to engage thoughtfully with the world while using their gifts to honor God and lead with integrity.

For Pelak, it means recognizing the potential in every student and intentionally cultivating the relationships and sense of belonging that allow that potential to flourish.

And for Ysasi, it means continually expanding her knowledge so she can help students navigate the academic, personal and post-graduation decisions that will shape their futures.

Their summer learning may have happened in conference rooms, roundtables, breakout sessions and conversations with educators from around the country, but the benefits of that learning will be felt right here at West Catholic—in classrooms, hallways and relationships throughout the school year.